At last, as he neared the end of this part of his journey, he became aware that a glimmering of light could be seen in the distance, and that with every step he took it became brighter, till at last, through a vista among the trees, he caught sight again of the Radiant City, looking brighter and more dazzling than it had ever looked before. At the sight of this he fell on his knees and worshipped his King Who had brought him safely through the darkness.
Then he rose and looked around him. Surely now his path was to lead him on and upwards, higher and higher; surely for him the darkness was past and over. He looked about eagerly for his pathway, and to his amazement found it led into the forest again, though by another way.
"Alas!" he cried, "my strength will fail me. I dare not encounter the horror of darkness again." So depressed was he that he sat him down under the shadow of a rock, and hiding his face in his hands he groaned aloud. For a long time he sat there, and as he rested, he fell asleep and dreamt.
The King stood before him; not as he had often thought of Him, radiant in power and might, with a beauty unspeakable and dazzling in its glory: but with a crown of thorns on His head, with pierced and bleeding hands and feet, with a face marred by suffering and sorrow. But, notwithstanding His bleeding feet and hands and His pierced brow, His eyes were directed towards a little wandering lamb who had strayed beyond the fold, and lay bleating on a thin ledge overhanging a precipitous cliff; and as He looked He moved towards it, though the thorns and prickly bushes at His feet opened the wounds afresh. Although the cliffs were almost impassable and the danger great, the King never hesitated; leaning over the awful abyss, He reached down till He grasped with His bleeding hands the little lamb, and lifting it up, sheltered it in His bosom.
Then Amer awoke.
Had it been a dream or had it been a vision? Whatever it was, it contained a lesson for him which changed his whole view of his journey. He was filled no longer with his own dangers and difficulties, but recognized that he had been saved to serve, and that the very reason of many of his experiences through which he had passed, was not merely to make him more fit for the Radiant City, but that he might be able to sympathize with other travellers and help them on the way.
On learning this he rose. But for him the darkness was lightened by many a glimpse of the Radiant City, and he found the forest silent no longer.
As he made his way along his path he constantly met other travellers, faint with fear or oppressed by the enemy Depression, or Despair, and he cheered them so that they had the courage to meet their foes in battle, and to overcome them.
To Amer's great surprise he met the last person whom he would have expected to meet in such a place.
He came upon a man lying prone upon the grass. At his first look at him he thought there was no life in him, but on coming closer he discovered that it was Chisleu, faint and weary. His face had lost its energy, and he had no words even with which to greet Amer. He looked at him with sad and dreary eyes, so unlike his former self, that the lad almost doubted if it could be he.